On our first day in Arica, we decided to walk into the town centre to explore. We didn´t take our hostel manager´s advice and walked which took about 1.5hours, had no idea we were so far out! We had a lazy nigth watching TV in the hostel with Neo the ginger cat who attacked everybody. The next day we spent on the beach (only a 20min walk this time!) and enjoyed the weather. I got in the sea but it smelt really really fishy so didn´t put up with it for long. That evening we were taken to a bar by the owner then came back to pack our bags ready for Peru.
We opted for a taxi to take us across the border and were spoilt for choice when we arrived at the bus terminal. There were cab drivers swarming us all shouting out their rates and offering to carry our bags, even when we picked a driver a few others ran behind telling us how bad his car is. It was a really short journey, taken through passport control extremly quickly and then we were in Peru. Our driver didn´t speak any English but he wanted to talk a lot. I was in the front next to him and with my trusty phrasebook we managed to have quite a good conversation about the history of Chile, sport and music. As Liam and Sara were getting a night bus to Lima, we dropped them off while the rest of us checked into to an extremely cheap hotel for the night.
Up early the next morning at 4 to get to the airport, a very short flight got us in Lima by 9:30 that morning and we checked straight into our hotel. This was included in our Inca trail ticket so it is much swankier than anything we have checked into so far, was great! We went out for a meal with a couple of the people we will be doing the treck with and had an early night. Another flight this morning from Lima to Cuzco, only an hour long. It is 3,500m above sea level here so altitude sickness can become a problem so we have been drinking lots of coca tea! Tomorrow we are doing a tour of the sacred valley before the actual Inca Trail begins on Thursday. We are all very excited, went out to the markets today to buy thick socks and gloves in preparation. Hopefully the next time I post an entry I will have the famous Macchu Pichu shot.
Nana says: What a tremendous experience you are having - I am so glad you are both enjoying yourselves and are keeping well. I do trust you will enjoy the next part of your trip and look forward to hearing from you again soon. Lov e to you both, Nana
ReplyDeleteHi John, Yours pics and comments are great. This is the first time I have seen Ashling close up - nice choice !! Glad to read your Spanish is coming on so good especially with taxi drivers! Looking forward to chatting with you on your return. Hasta luego Vaya con Dios e Adios Peter the Policeman
ReplyDeleteHi Jon and Ashling,
ReplyDeleteSo glad that things seem to be going so well on your journeys. You must almost reaching saturation point with all those beautiful sights (and sites!) It's great to see the photos from this end and share just a bit of your trip.
Are you hearing about the flu epidemic in Mexico? I'm not sure if you travel through Mexico, or fly over it, but when you get close by, it may be worth checking the Foreign Office website for their advice. Lots of people seem to have been affected,although there do seem to be good antiviral tablets if you are exposed. At Heathrow airport yesterday they were checking everyone coming thro' who has been to central US, to make sure they weren't sniffing and in need of treatment! Seemed funny at the time, but I guess it's better than the alternative.
Enough doom and gloom...continue to chill out and enjoy yourselves. We're so envious,
Take good care,
Love from Judith & Peter xx